Magnetic annunciator



(No Model.) F 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

W. HUMANS.

MAGNETIC ANNUNGIATOR.

No. 388,876. t Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

N. PETERS, Flfalo-Lnhcgnpher. washington. D. c.

(No Modell) 8 sheets-sheen 2.

W. HUMANS.

MAGNETIC ANNUNGIATOR.

No. 888,878. A Patented sept. 4, 1888.

WlTNESSESS INVENTUFYI N. PETERS. mummhagnphur, wningmn. |1=CA tion to acover that the number is visible when UNITED STATES PATENT Critica.

AMERICAN MAGNETIC ELECTRIC JERSEY.

COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW

MAGNETIC VANNUNCEAT'OR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,876, datedSeptember 4, 1888.

Application filed July 23, 1885.

.To al whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Humans, of Cambridge, in rthe county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulMagnetic Annunciator, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure l is afront elevation of one of my annunciators, showing sixteen drops ornumbers. Fig. 2 isa side view of one form of drop embodying myinvention. Fig. 3 is a rear view, and Fig. 4 a lengthwise section ofFig. 2, and shows also a circuit and circuit-closer. Fig. 5 is aperspective detail of the armature and its connections. Figs. 6 and 7illustrate a modification. v

Annunciators are usually made in one of three waysviz., the number isupon a stationary plate and there is a cover in front of the number,which cover is held in that position until opened by the index of thearmature, the removal of the cover disclosing the number, and the coveris then replaced by hand or by some appropriate mechanism, commonlycalled a drop-raiser, second, the index carries a piece of sheetmaterial with the number upon it, and is so arranged with relain oneposition and not visible when in another position, this being theconverse of the rst way-thatis, inthe iirst way the cover is moved todisclose the stationary number-,while in the second way the cover isstationary and the number is moved in order to become disclosed. Thethird way is to use the index simply to call attention to the number.

My invention is of course applicable in annunciators on all these plans5 but I have shown it in Figs. l to 4 as applied to cause the cover tomove in order to disclose the number, and in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 asapplied to cause the number to move either behind a cover with suitableapertures or simply as an index, as in the third way above mentioned.

In the drawings, A is a magnet, and c its armature, the armature beingmounted on its axis, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The armatureis preferably constructed as described in au application for patenttiled by Serial No. 172,435. (No model.)

me, Serial No. 172,433, July 23, 1885; but, 5o as it may be constructedin the usual way, it

is not necessary to describe it in detail. The frame which supports thearmature is made up of the cross-pieces b b, which are connected by therods b2, thereby making the armature and its supporting-frame so thatthe whole can be readily inserted between the poles of the magnet, thehead b centering one end ofthe armature, and the connection beingcompleted by inserting the crosspiece b iu the recesses in 6o the polesof the magnet. This makesasimple and exceedingly cheap and durabledevice which can be readily put together with extreme accuracy byordinary workmen, and this combination of an armature with its mag- 55net by means of the cross-pieces b b, connected by the rods b2,constitutes one feature of my invention.

The cross piece or head b has ears upon it, which serve as bearingsfortheindexD, which 7o in Figs. l to 5, both inclusive, is a lever, theinner end of which is iu a groove iu the end piece, d, of the armature,and the outer end of which is a latch which holds the cover F in place.The index D is adjusted in this form of my drop by the light springd,which is carried by the block d2, and this block is adjustable by theset-screw d". (See Fig. 2.) The index D extends through a slot in theneutral portion of the magnet, as shown in Fig. 4. I 8O prefer to make adouble catch on the index and on the cover F, so that in case thearmature shall be attracted to either sidethe cover will be held up bythe catch. The spring d' and this double catch are precautionary, forobviously a counter-weight on the lever or on the armature will answerinstead; but Where feeble alternating currcntsareto be usedcounter-weights and springs are undesirable, and in such cases thedouble catch is important. 9o

In Figs. 6 and 7 the index Dis in one piece with the end piece, d,- butthe construction is otherwise the same as that above described.

Another feature of my invention relates to the connections between thearmature-coil and line, and consists in carrying one end of the coil tothe insulating-block ff, which is rmly attached to the crosspicce l andthe magnet A, and has a wire, f, secured to it, which is held in contactwith the end of the wire from the coil by the screw f', (which is ofcourse out of contact with the magnet A.) The other end of the wire fromthe coil is in electrical connection with the cross-piece b. The springsfzf3 are attached to the wooden shelves H of the casing of theannunciator, and are electrically connected to the line-wire.Consequently when the armature and its supporting-frame are put in placebetween the legs of the magnet one spring, f2, will bear upon theelectrodef and the other spring, f3, will bear upon the end of thecross-piece b, as Vclearly shown in Fig. 4, and thus the armature-coilwill be connected to line in a very simple and perfect manner.

'Ihe packing together of a series of my drops, as shown in Fig. l, withlike poles to like poles makes one compound magnet of all the drops, andthus increases the magnetic energy of the magnet of each drop, therebyconsiderably increasing the efciency of each drop and making eachsensitive to Very feeble currents.

The part G, to which the cover F is hinged, is shown as secured to theshelves H, but may of course be secured only to the magnet A. In Fig. 4it is shown secured to the magnet by lips g, which are bent into arecess in the magnet.

It will be observed that when the armature and its frame are supportedby the magnet, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, the device is verycompact and strong, and a number of them can be readily packed togetheror arranged upon a back board.

I have shown the index iingcr at right angles to the axis ofthearmature; but that is not essential, as will be clear to all familiarwith this art.

The tablet J in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, is inserted in a recess formedin the magnet and covered by the front G, and is pressed forward closeagainst the rear surface of front G by the spring j. This is in orderthat the tablets may be shifted readily, andconstitutes a feature of myinvention.

The operation is as follows: The battery-circuit shown in Fig. 4 is keptopen normally and closed by the ordinary push-button, too well known torequire description. When the current passes, the bell shown in Fig. 4sounds, and the lever D is moved by the partial rotation of the armatureon its axis, unlatching door F, which discloses the number of the room,as indicated in Fig. l.

In Fig. 4 the door remains open until closed by the attendant and caughtagain by the latch Von the end of the lever D.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the armature may be operated by alternating currentsand may stand normally, as shown in Fig. 6; or it may be moved in onedirection by making the batterycircuit and returned by the usualdrop-raiser.

XVhat I claim as my invention isl. In combination, magnet A. armature a,head b, cross-piece b, and rods b2, the magnet being rounded inside toreceive the head b and recessed to receive the cross-piece b, allsubstantially as set forth.

2. In combination, magnet A, its armature a, cross-piece l),insulating-block f4, electrode f, shelves H H, andconnccting-springsfzfi, the springs]c2 f3 being fast, respectively, tothe shelves H H and connected to the line-Wire, so that putting themagnet and its armature in place between shelves H H connects the coilof the armature to line, substantially as described. l

3. An annunciator having aseries of permanent magnets arranged with likepole to the like poles ofthe neighboring magnets, the magnets beingsubstantially uniform in size and shape, and each magnet having itsarmature arranged within and supported byit, substantially as described.

WILLIAM HUM ANS.

vWitnesses:

J MAYNADIER, JOHN R. Snow.

